A subsequent brain scan revealed an abnormality that would have endangered Ndou's health at the time if he continued to box.
His most notable fight was an entertaining seven-round bout against WBC lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. on 1 November 2003.
After defeating Casey Patton of Canada in a controversial referee stoppage, Ndou lost in the second round to the eventual gold medallist, Kamsing Somluck of Thailand.
[5] Ndou won his comeback fight on 14 February 2009, defeating Rachid Drilzane on a technical knockout in the fifth round.
The former World Boxing Union super featherweight champion had not been in the ring since May 2004, when he lost to Isaac Hlatswayo, seven months after his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. After losing to Lovemore Ndou on 11 July 2009, Phillip Ndou made a comeback defeating Bhekimpilo Mlilo by TKO in the 4th round of an 8-round contest.